Morning Buzz: SC’s growing repair bill, manufacturing’s power boost, police body camera push

The state of disrepair of S.C. buildings

Expensive repairs needed at colleges, office buildings and mental-health facilities.

As S.C. lawmakers debate how to pay to repair the state’s crumbling roads – a unfunded repair job that carries a price tag of up to $1.5 billion a year – paying to repair deteriorating buildings looms as one of the state’s next $200 million-plus problems.

Just how much money is needed for repairs across more than 100 state agencies is unknown because no one in state government keeps a tab of the total needed.

But a survey of just four state agencies shows the amount needed is more than $200 million.

Power tools: How manufacturing boosts S.C.’s economy

Manufacturing has powered the recovery in South Carolina since the end of the Great Recession in 2009, and is continuing to post strong numbers in investment and job growth even as other industries begin to flex their muscle.

Manufacturing job growth in South Carolina rose 13.5 percent from January 2011 – the beginning of Gov. Nikki Haley’s administration – to December 2014. That is nearly double the 7 percent average of all other Southeastern states.

The Buzz: Pushing body cameras for cops, Graham’s travels

When they return to Columbia Tuesday, some lawmakers plan to fast-track a bill requiring all S.C. law enforcement officers to wear body cameras after the shooting death of an unarmed man last weekend by a North Charleston police officer. Plus, how much Gov. Nikki Haley has left to spend in her campaign account and Sen. Lindsey Graham’s 2016 campaign schedule this week.

S.C. Clicks

Land preserve: A limited liability corporation has bought and will preserve 1,200 acres of prime coastal real estate near Pawleys Island that had been marketed by a University of South Carolina foundation for possible development.

North Charleston shooting: The Rev. Al Sharpton thanked the mayor and police chief in North Charleston on Sunday for their response to the fatal shooting of Walter Scott, saying their swift action could set the tone for handling future questions of police misconduct across the country.

S.C. State: University's new chief financial officer is trying to work out payment plans on some of the school's biggest bills.

Boeing vote: The International Association of Machinists might withdraw its petition for an April 22 vote at Boeing South Carolina if too many employees signal a lack of support for union representation, a representative said.

Citadel politics: The Citadel is drawing some heat over cadets participating in Republican political events, including appearing in uniform at candidate rallies.

2016 news: Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton is hitting the road to start her 2016 presidential campaign, leaving Sunday on a road trip from her home in New York in a van headed for Iowa. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio, the first-term Republican senator from Florida, launches his presidential campaign Monday.

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This story was originally published April 13, 2015 at 2:00 AM with the headline "Morning Buzz: SC’s growing repair bill, manufacturing’s power boost, police body camera push."